Developing a computational model for human neural tube closure

03:052 years ago

Animal-free methods for human chemical safety assessment are promising tools for the reduction of animal testing. However, these methods only measure a small aspect of biology compared to an in vivo test. The reductionist nature of these methods thus limits their individual application in the regulatory arena of chemical risk assessment. Ontologies can be used to describe human biology, and delineate the basis of adverse outcome pathway networks that describe how chemical exposures may lead to adverse health effects. This pathway description can then help to select animal-free in vitro and in silico methods, comprehensively covering the network. The comprehensiveness of this approach, firmly rooted in human biology, is expected to facilitate regulatory acceptance of animal-free methods. As an example, this video zooms in on the development of a computational model for neural tube development, an aspect of human development that is especially vulnerable to chemical disruption.

This research is part of the ONTOX project.
For more information on the concept of the Virtual Human, click here.

Related

EURL ECVAM
Projects and initiatives
HealthInnovationPolicy

EURL ECVAM

The EU Reference Laboratory for alternatives to animal testing (EURL ECVAM) promotes and facilitates the use of non-animal methods in testing and research. It validates, disseminates and shares knowledge on the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of animal experiments). In this video, Raffaella Corvi explains what EURL ECVAM does in the field of safety testing of chemicals while reducing laboratory animal testing. Watch the accessible version of the video here (https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-230374). ©European Union, 2021
02:334 months ago
Five simple tricks for making your own video for TPI.tv
TPI.tv videos

Five simple tricks for making your own video for TPI.tv

This video shows you how to make a video yourself. It's really not that difficult! See also the submission page (https://tpi.tv/submit-a-video) for additional information.
01:234 years ago
 Helpathon #11 – Can you help Terry?
Questions
HelpathonsHealth

Helpathon #11 – Can you help Terry?

Terry Vrijenhoek (UMC Utrecht) is a geneticist and explores the societal impact of gene therapy. In this Helpathon the focus is on Alzheimers, for which there is no cure but there is a promising RNA-based therapy in the pipeline. Can you help Terry with designing scenarios for responsible development for gene therapy for Alzheimer disease in terms of benefits, risks, budgets and animal models? More information can be found here (https://www.helpathonhotel.org/coming-up).
01:1438 days ago
Helpathon #11 – Can you help Francesca?
Questions
HelpathonsHealth

Helpathon #11 – Can you help Francesca?

Francesca Stillitano (UMC Utrecht) is a geneticist and an Assistant Professor at the Department of Cardiology. Francesca is currently working with mice models and with human tissue-based in vitro models to develop and test new gene therapies for a rare cardiomyopathy. Can you help Francesca with developing gene therapies for curing inherited cardiomyopathies without the use of animal models? More information can be found here (https://www.helpathonhotel.org/coming-up).
01:5538 days ago